Lizzie Borden Society Forum

If Hiram Harrington was so confident that the murderer was one of the household, then how could Emma and John not have similar thoughts?
Furthermore, how could they sleep in the house the evening of the murders?

We hear of Alice’s interactions with Lizzie, but I wonder what Emma’s disposition was, and how she communicated with Lizzie.

Just as Lizzie stood with her back to the murder scene with no fear of a murderer, Emma and John saw no threat from Lizzie. It was over, Lizzie had her freedom and inheritance. Consider that Maplecroft was less than 4% of Andrew's fortune, Lizzie had no reason whatsoever to risk killing Emma to get it all, there was already more money than the two of them would ever come close to spending in their lifetimes.

Lizzie knew Emma was not greedy, and she was generous, paying for half of Lizzie's defense. Uncle John was no threat to Lizzie and she had absolutely nothing to gain from harming him and vice-versa. Uncle John had a good relationship with Emma and was largely ignored by Lizzie as far as we can tell.

If they suspected an outside intruder, Andrew had to be the most likely target with a bad business deal or tenant issue - in that case the revenge was done. The house was surrounded by police. They had the safest house in Fall River in the days after the murders. If Emma and John suspected Lizzie, then there was nothing to fear, all her goals were already accomplished, and harming Emma or John would make things worse for Lizzie.

I have a feeling they knew almost immediately, and if so, for me anyway, it explains why John spent all those hours outside in the yard after finding out, and briefly going inside, as well as screaming Lizzie’s name out loud.

Emma most definitely would have known, and a lot of her testimony seems to play it off.

Just as Lizzie wasn’t afraid of an intruder within minutes or seconds of Andrew’s death, neither were John or Emma later that evening.
Charles Sawyer was scared, and certainly Alice was nervous.

I imagine that Officer Allen may have also been a bit shy to inspect the house because he left them all alone, not knowing who could easily be hiding in there somewhere.
This was before Abby was discovered, so it’s strange the Allen didn’t want everyone out so the house could be secured.
Maybe he had a bit of tunnel vision as he ran for help.